Dry skin around eye area

I have this weird skin problem on my eyelids and on the skin around my eyes. I don't know what it is. I'm not sure if it's a rash or dry skin. I've had it for about a year...ever since I started using make-up. I'm pretty sure it's make-up related, I talked to a lady at the Clinique counter and told her my dilemma. She said that it was most definitely the cheap makeup I've been using (the cheap makeup kits that have tons of different colors) and told me to use Neosporin. If it didn't get better within 2 weeks she said, see a dermatologist. I followed her advice and nothing really happened. My mom dislikes our medical group and doesn't know of any dermatologists...she wants me to find out for sure what I have and if it needs medical attention. I've had this for a long time and it doesn't seem to be going away. I've haven't worn make-up in a month in a half in my eye area and it doesn't seem to be getting better. In fact, it seems to be getting worse. What's worse, is that people at school notice it and it's embarrassing. Some days are worse than others, I wake up and it's bright red and the skin is peeling on top of it...stings too when if I drip my contact solution on it. Other times, it just looks wrinkly and darker than the rest of my skin in that area. I've really tried everything...I've put lotion on...that stops the peeling somewhat, but it never goes way. Can anyone help me?!

It could be exzema. I just started in the past year having bouts of strange dryness under my eyes and on my eye lids. I can't say that it has been peeling as you describe, but it can be red and, especially under my eyes, it looks like my skin is 100 years old. It gets really dry and wrinkly. A friend of mine suggested it might be exzema because her son gets it like that. I get exzcema occasionally on my arms or legs, so I figured it was possible. To make a long story short, when I use my exzema medicine prescribed by my doctor it goes away. You should definitely see a doctor about it because I don't personnally know of any over the counter remedies that actually work for exzema and I obviously can't diagnose that that is what you have. But it's a suggestion.

About a couple of years ago I bought a Oil of Olay eye gel thingy...I applied it and the next day I had dry, itchy skin around the eyes...needless to say I threw the eye gel away and I haven't had that issue again.

I have had winter dryness on my eyelids for the past few winters. Just little spots that are flaky for a few months. I too used Oil of Olay eye gel and within a few days I looked like I had frog eyes! I seem to have periods of remission and exacerbation of inflammed, red and sometimes puffy skin on my eyelids. The skin looks like it has been all stretched out.
I tried cetaphil - burned the crap out of my skin,it has parasol in it which I think is the problem. The lady at Clinique told me to try teabags on my eyes. Burned the crap out of em again!. I have been using Eucerin eye cream and sensitive lotion for the face and also pure vitamin e oil. I also have been taking fish oils, zinc and vitamin A drops which is great as it is also good for the immune system. I have also used an OTC cortisone ointment when it gets really bad. I am sure it was the eye gel that started the problem but why is it taking so long to completely heal and I wonder if the skin on my eyes will always from now on be so super sensitive?

You may also have allergies which can cause this. If you do a medication can be prescribed. Alos to make them more comfortable use olive oil, vaseline, aquaphor, etc. Just make sure it is not a cream with additives and has one ingredient.

I was so glad to find this site. I have had horrible problems with the skin around my eyes. I have eczema and have Elidel which works good for it. When I was a child I had problems around my eyes but have not had that for like 10 yrs. Now recently I have had dry itchy red skin around my eyes. I also have horrible wrinkles, I know I will want to do something about them eventually because they will just get worse. Elidel does not seem to work on my eyes. The irritation seems to go away on its own and only fads for a couple of days. Cold water helps the itching stops temporarily, but the skin around my eyes look like that of an old lady! I do not want to live with them like this. Any advice? Anyone else have these symptoms and found relief? I don't want to do any more damage than what they already have done to them.

You could try emu oil. It is a effective anti-inflammatory, helps dry skin and treats eczema, it will also help with fine lines and wrinkles. Just do a google search on it. I use it and I must say that I will never use any other product on my skin, its great. I don't have to worry anymore about dry, itchy skin.

I have had this EXACT same problem for several years now. I have yet to find any kind of eye makeup I can tolerate so I just don't wear any. The skin around my eyes goes through this cycle: itches, turns red, then peels. Then the cycle starts over again. Some nights I can't even sleep because they itch and burn so bad. I also have a small patch on my right temple that does the same thing. Then I also get other patches on my arms, legs, torso, etc. that just come and go. The only thing a doctor will do is prescribe oral and/or topical steroids which should not be used long term. The only thing that doesn't irritate my skin is Vaseline, but it hasn't cured it. I have ordered some pure shea butter to see if I can tolerate that as a moisturizer around my eyes. I've read great things about it. I sometimes wonder if eczema is diet related. I'm in the process of changing my foundation makeup to mineral makeup as well as changing my shampoo, conditioner and cleaners to organic products without all of the chemicals in them. If anyone has any other advice, I'd love to hear it.

I know this thread was started awhile ago, but I really wanted to add my 2 cents. I had this same problem for over a year. I went to my family Dr. who sent me to my eye doctor who sent me back to my family doctor who then sent me to an allergist who sent me back to my family doctor who sent me to a Dermatologist who sent me to a Dermatologist who specializes in Contact Dermatitis. This is what a few of the Doctors agreed what it was. The specialist agreed, but was the only one who could do intense testing to see what was causing it. Contact dermatitis is a a sensitivity or allergy that your skin reacts to when it comes in contact with a subsance. From what I was told, you should not put anything on your eye until you find out what causes it. Your dermatitis will go away when your shin stops coming into contact with the substance - it can take up to 4 months for it to go away. Anyway, they found out that I had a fragrance sensitivity. Doesn't mean it affects me when I smell a scent - it's only when I touch something with fragrance and then touch my eye. This is everything you put on your face - moisturizer, soap, make up, etc. There are many products that are frangrance free, but just because something says it's fragrance free doesn't mean that it truely is. There is so much info to absorb, I know. I use a special soap, moisturizer and it turned out that the make up I was using was OK - so I didn't have to change that. But it is a pain in the neck, I have to wash my hands after I touch anything and I have to carry my own soap everywhere with me. I'm not going to continue on with my problem because everyone can be allergic to something else - just get to the Dermatologist ASAP. And do not put any creams, etc. on your eye, because you don't know what all of the ingredients mean - they can be doing more harm then good. All of my doctors had presribed different things for me to put on my eyes and it turned out that I was allergic to every one of them. And one more thing the Clinique lady does not know what a dermatologist knows. There was no way she could tell you what to do for your skin. More expensive make ups generally are not any better that cheaper brands. You will have to learn to read lables. My Derm. gave me a list of all products that are truely fragrance free and this is no particular brand that is better. Some brands are ok for foundation but not blush you'll have to use another brand brand for lipstick. You just have to follow the list the Derm. gives you and learn to read labels. Good luck!

[COLOR="Purple"]Soon after I (recently) turned 41 I began experiencing dry itchy red puffy inflamed skin under my eyes and on my lids. It's not directly below my eyes, but at the top of my cheekbones just below my eyes. I look 60 years old...or like botox injections gone bad (I've never done botox). I have been using the same skin care products, cleaning products, laundry detergents, shampoos, vitamins, etc for years, and I can't imagine I would have developed such a severe reaction so suddently after all this time!

I've tried Vaseline, Jurlique (organic) eye cream, Clinique (chemical) eye cream and even nothing, but it didn't affect anything one way or the other.

I went to the derm, and of course, they can't definitively tell you the cause, esp if it's an allergy. She prescribed TobraDex - a $90 (!!!) tiny tube of petroleum based antibiotic steroid, which has helped, but not cured.

Perfume is the logical suspect, so I elimated that for about a week, but it hasn't helped. I read on another board that nail polish can cause a reaction around the eye area, so now I'm eliminating that. I've recently been using OPI polish with sparkles, and it makes sense that something on your fingers which comes in contact with makeup, pillows, clothing, hair, etc would affect your eyes. Concidentally, I removed my polish last night and woke up with REALLY puffy red eyes! I also wear contacts, but I don't think it's my solution.

I mention these items in case anyone else who uses OPI or sparkly nail polish or wears contacts is experiencing eye problems...it may (or may not?) be the culprit. If my irritation goes away, I'll let you know! [/COLOR]

UPDATE: The cause of the irritation appears to be the POLLEN we get every spring in the South. I've gone back to using all of my products, and nothing caused irritation. The pollen is gone, and so is the irritation.

When I sweat or cry I break out if raw BLISTERS on my eyelids, under my eyebrows and all around my eyes.

Family Dr prescribed Elocon which relieved it quick.
But it returns every time I get the slightest bit warm it returns.
(my eylids sweat a LOT, which is weird but they do..
I AM gonna be 60 and my skin tends to get very hot for no logical reason sometimes)

I became worried that maybe its cancer or something contagious?
I went to a Dermatologist.
He said it's Eczema.

He said absolutely do not ever use a steriod like Elocon near my eyes!

He prescribed Elidel.
Sure enough the Elidel got rid of it but it also blurred my sight badly and gave me monster headaches in just 3 days.
I asked for a diff prescription.
He prescribes Protopic.
This time I looked it up before buying it. It stated you can NOT use it near eyes.
what the heck..the problem is on my eyelids!

Both the Elidel and Protopic have governement Black Box cancer warnings stateing that continued use WILL cause cancer.

I can't beleive he prescribed such dangerous meds for my eyelids!

Went back to the Dermotologist.
His only answer is to use Mimyx (prescribed cream) and only use Dove soap. He gave me samples of the Mimyx and Dove soap.
Mimyx is great feeling cream and it cost $149 a tube. Won't cure a thing but it does make the skin feel nice between outbreaks. My ins won't cover it.

I had been useing Baby Magic Body Wash on my face (the no tears kind) So he wants me switching so I'm useing Aveeno (oatmeal based) cleaning bars now. Dove is nice gentle soap but I prefer something that is not stinging to the eyes!

So I'm discusted with the answers from my Dermatologist but at least I know the blisters on my eyelids and around my eyes are simply a form of eczema.

It got up to 80 a week or so ago and being outside made me pirspire.
OH NO!
I came in, washed my face with cold water.. put slices of cold cucumbers over my eyelids a while and hoped I would not break out in blisters.

The next morning I had terrible blisters under my eybrows, under my eyes, in the skin of the corners of my eyes the top of my nose but... not on my eyelids themsleves this time.
So I'm gonna keep a cucumber in the refridgerator for this summer.

BUT for the break out blisters this time I applied over-the-counter Cetaphil cream.
Cool Relief. Took a only few days to get rid of the blisters.
so I am currently converted to useing Cetaphil.

Summer isn't here but I've my sneak peak and I hope I have some control this year.

BTW the only over-the-counter cream or lotion I have found that actually states on the label that it is "safe on eyelids".. is Ponds cold cream.

So currently each night I am putting the cold cream on my eyelids and the Cetaphil on the surrounding area.. in hopes to rebuild my skin barriers so it doesn't react so badly come summer.

This may be a stretch, but maybe the sun and heat are causing fever blisters or a Herpes outbreak around your eyes. I take Valtrex ($8-10 / pill) when I feel an outbreak coming on for blisters I get around my mouth, and it's the only thing that helps.